General Features of the Statutes Dealing with Land Reforms in India
General Features of the Statutes Dealing with Land Reforms in India
'Land' being a state subject, every state has its own Land Reforms laws.
The Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Acts, were enacted during 1960s to further the Directive Principles of State Policy, provided under part four of the Constitution of India in Art.39(b) & (c). Art 39 provides that the State should, in particular, direct its policy towards securing that the ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to subserve the common good and that the operation of the economic system does not result in concentration of wealth and means of production to the common detriment. To achieve this purpose the land reforms are brought about.
Land reforms are applicable only to the agricultural lands. However there are separate enactments to deal with urban land holdings. They also impose restrictions on holdings in urban areas and impose ceiling.
The Acts exempt lands belonging to the central and state governments, local authorities, universities, educational institutions, trusts for a public purpose or of an educational nature and cooperative societies.
For the purposes of the Act a family of five members is the unit. A family of five members shall hold no more than one standard unit of land. A standard unit varies from state to state. In case of Madras 30 acres is the standard holding. A family with more than five members shall be entitled to 5 additional acres per member. A joint hindu family is considered a single unit. The number of acres calculation differs according to the nature of the land, i.e wet or dry.
Within a specified period of time, after the notification issued by the government, every person holding land is required to file a return with the authorized officer regarding the particulars of the land held by him. The authorized officer shall prepare a statement of the surplus land held by the person and notify the same. The
'Land' being a state subject, every state has its own Land Reforms laws.
The Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Acts, were enacted during 1960s to further the Directive Principles of State Policy, provided under part four of the Constitution of India in Art.39(b) & (c). Art 39 provides that the State should, in particular, direct its policy towards securing that the ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to subserve the common good and that the operation of the economic system does not result in concentration of wealth and means of production to the common detriment. To achieve this purpose the land reforms are brought about.
Land reforms are applicable only to the agricultural lands. However there are separate enactments to deal with urban land holdings. They also impose restrictions on holdings in urban areas and impose ceiling.
The Acts exempt lands belonging to the central and state governments, local authorities, universities, educational institutions, trusts for a public purpose or of an educational nature and cooperative societies.
For the purposes of the Act a family of five members is the unit. A family of five members shall hold no more than one standard unit of land. A standard unit varies from state to state. In case of Madras 30 acres is the standard holding. A family with more than five members shall be entitled to 5 additional acres per member. A joint hindu family is considered a single unit. The number of acres calculation differs according to the nature of the land, i.e wet or dry.
Within a specified period of time, after the notification issued by the government, every person holding land is required to file a return with the authorized officer regarding the particulars of the land held by him. The authorized officer shall prepare a statement of the surplus land held by the person and notify the same. The